Pear Tree Named &#39;CH201&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new pear variety named ‘CH201’ is distinguished by its crunchy bicolored fruit, which maintains its quality during very long term storage, and its low susceptibility to fire blight.

Latin name

Pyrus communis L.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘CH201’

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

‘CH201’ is a new and distinct variety of pear tree that originated as aproduct of a controlled cross made in 2000 at Conthey, Switzerland, of‘Harrow Sweet’ (female parent, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,863) and ‘Verdi’(male parent, not patented). A seedling resulting from the cross wasasexually propagated by grafting in 2009 at Conthey, Switzerland, andwas subsequently observed over successive asexually propagatedgenerations. The tree and its fruit have been found to remain true totype and to retain the desirable characteristics for which the varietywas selected.

‘CH201’ is distinguished by its crunchy bicolored fruit, which maintainsits quality during very long term storage, and its low susceptibility tofire blight. ‘CH201’ is slightly more susceptible to fire blight thanits female parent ‘Harrow Sweet’, but is less susceptible than ‘Verdi’or ‘Louise Bonne’ (not patented). Fruit of ‘CH201’ has a coarsertexture, a more pronounced blush, and longer storage ability than thatof ‘Harrow Sweet’, ‘Verdi’ or ‘Louise Bonne’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the fruit of the variety at harvest, showingthe intense red blush overcolor of the skin;

FIG. 2 is a photograph of the fruit of the variety at harvest, showingthe ground color of the skin;

FIG. 3 is a photograph of fruit of the variety at harvest (left) andafter storage (right);

FIG. 4 is a photograph of the tree of the variety; and,

FIG. 5 is a photograph of the fruit and leaves of the variety.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following detailed botanical description is based on observationsmade during the 2013 and 2014 growing seasons at Conthey, Switzerland of‘CH201’ trees planted in 2011 on ‘BA29’ rootstock (not patented). Allcolors are described according to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart. It should be understood that the characteristics described willvary somewhat depending upon cultural practices and climatic conditions,and will vary with location and season. Quantified measurements areexpressed as an average of measurements taken from a number ofindividual plants of the new variety. The measurements of any individualplant or any group of plants of the new variety may vary from the statedaverage.

-   Tree:    -   -   Vigor.—Medium-weak.        -   Type.—Ramified.        -   Habit.—Drooping.        -   Height.—2.5 m.        -   Spread.—Medium.        -   Trunk diameter (at 30 cm above the graft).—4.5 cm.        -   Bark texture.—Fine.        -   Bark coloration.—Greyed-green 196A.        -   Winter hardiness.—Hardy in area tested.-   Branch (fruiting branches located at around 1 m above the graft    union):    -   -   Length.—130 cm.        -   Diameter.—1 cm.        -   Crotch angle.—90°.        -   Bark color.—Greyed-green 198D.-   One year old shoot:    -   -   Length.—20 cm.        -   Color.—Grey-brown N199C.        -   Pubescence.—Weak.        -   Thickness.—0.4 cm.        -   Internode length.—5 cm.        -   Pubescence.—Weak.        -   Number of lenticels.—3 (per cm²).-   Flower buds:    -   -   Quantity per spur.—2.        -   Shape.—Conical.        -   Length.—1 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.8 cm.        -   Color.—Greyed-green 195A.-   Flowers:    -   -   Diameter of fully open flower.—1.9 cm.        -   Depth of open flower.—0.6 cm.        -   Relative position of petal margin.—Not touching.        -   Number per cluster.—7.        -   Date of first bloom.—Apr. 4 (2014).        -   Date of full bloom.—Apr. 11 (2014).-   Petals:    -   -   Number per flower.—5.        -   Shape.—Round.        -   Length.—0.9 cm.        -   Width.—0.8 cm.        -   Apex.—Round.        -   Base.—Pointed.        -   Margin.—Smooth.        -   Coloration of upper surface.—White with red-purple 65A edge.        -   Coloration of lower surface.—White and red-purple 65A.-   Pistils:    -   -   Size.—0.6 cm.        -   Color.—Yellow-green 149A.-   Stigma:    -   -   Size.—0.1 cm.        -   Color.—Yellow-green 150A.-   Style:    -   -   Length.—0.5 cm.        -   Color.—Yellow-green 149A.-   Ovary:    -   -   Size.—0.2 mm.        -   Color.—Yellow-green N144C.-   Anthers:    -   -   Quantity.—20.        -   Length.—0.12 cm.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—3.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.12 cm.        -   Color.—Green 143C.-   Sepals:    -   -   Quantity.—5.        -   Color.—Greyed-orange N170B.        -   Length.—1 cm.        -   Width.—0.3 cm.        -   Shape.—Conical pointed.        -   Apex.—Pointed Acute.        -   Margin.—Smooth.        -   Attitude in relation to corolla.—Fused at the base.-   Leaves:    -   -   Shape.—Elliptical.        -   Length.—6.5 cm.        -   Width.—3.7 cm.        -   Length/width ratio.—1.75.        -   Blade margin.—Finely crenate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Color of upper surface.—Green 143A.        -   Color of lower surface.—Green 143B.        -   Attitude in relation to shoot.—Downward.        -   Curvature of longitudinal axis.—Medium.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—4.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.12 cm.        -   Coloration.—Yellow 2C.        -   Stipule.—None.-   Fruit:    -   -   Quantity per cluster.—2 to 4.        -   Height.—9 cm.        -   Width.—6.6 cm.        -   Ratio of height to width.—0.9.        -   Weight.—209 g.        -   General shape in profile.—Pyriform.        -   Position of maximum diameter.—⅓ inferior.        -   Symmetry in longitudinal section.—Total.        -   Skin texture.—Firm.        -   Background color of skin before storage.—Green 143C.        -   Background color of skin after storage.—Yellow-green 150A.        -   Area of over color of skin.—70%.        -   Intensity of over color of skin.—High.        -   Color of overcolor before storage.—Greyed-purple 185A.        -   Color of overcolor after storage.—Orange-red N30A.        -   Relative area of russet around eye basin.—Absent.        -   Relative area of russet on cheeks.—Absent.        -   Relative area of russet on stalk attachment.—Absent.        -   Length of stalk.—3.5 cm.        -   Thickness of stalk.—0.4 cm (middle).        -   Curvature of stalk.—3°.        -   Attitude of stalk in relation to axis of fruit.—Tilt 15°.        -   Stalk color.—Grey-brown N199C.        -   Depth of eye basin.—0.5 cm.        -   Width of eye basin.—1.5 cm.        -   Attitude of sepals at harvest.—Closed.        -   Firmness of flesh at harvest.—14.        -   Firmness of flesh when ripe.—2.78.        -   Flesh texture.—Crunchy.        -   Aroma.—Sweet pear.        -   Juiciness.—Medium juicy.        -   Brix.—11°.        -   Flesh color.—White NN155A.-   Seeds:    -   -   Quantity per fruit.—7.        -   Shape.—Oval-oblong.        -   Length.—1 cm.        -   Width.—0.45 cm.        -   Color.—Grey-brown N199D.-   Harvest:    -   -   Time for harvest.—Mid-September, 1 week after ‘Conferénce’            (not patented).        -   Time of maturity for consumption.—September to April (with 7            days shelf-life at 20° C.).        -   Amount of fruit produced per tree per harvest.—14 kg (3^(rd)            leaf trees).-   Disease resistance/susceptibility: Low susceptibility to fire blight    (greenhouse tested for shoot with artificial inoculation).-   Market use: Fresh-   Storage characteristics: Stores well until March under NA conditions    and until May under CA conditions

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct pear tree substantially as described andillustrated herein.